Tulsa is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, with 563,299 residents as of the 2000 census. As of 2006, Tulsa had an estimated population of 387,807[1], and its Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 897,752. In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau projected the Tulsa MSA to reach 1 million residents within three to five years[2]. As of 2006, Tulsa’s Combined Statistical Area, which includes the Bartlesville Micropolitan Area, was estimated to have a population of 946,993. Tulsa is the 45th largest city in the United States and the 93rd largest city in North America.
Tulsa, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s): Oil Capital of the World, America's Most Beautiful City | |
 Location in the state of Oklahoma | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Counties | Tulsa, Osage, Wagoner, Rogers |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kathy Taylor (D) |
| Population (2006) | |
• City | 387,807 |
| • Metro | 937,815 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Website | www.cityoftulsa.org |
The city is located in Northeast Oklahoma, a part of the state often referred to as "Green Country." It is considered the cultural and arts center of Oklahoma, boasting two world-renowned art museums, full-time professional opera and ballet companies, and a large concentration of art deco architecture. [3] In 2005, Tulsa was selected as one of "America's Most Livable Large Cities." [4]
History
What was to ultimately become Tulsa was originally part of Indian Territory and was first settled by the Lochapoka and Creek tribes between 1828 and 1836. They established a home under a large oak tree at the present-day intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and 18th Street, and named their new settlement "Tulasi," meaning "old town" in the Lachapoka language, which led to the present day usage of the name "Tulsa." In the early 20th Century, Tulsa was the site of an "oil boom" which led to an immense economic and population surge. As a result, a oil barons and their patrons used their riches to construct a large number of buildings in the popular Art Deco style of the time. Aviation took a prominent economic role during the middle 20th Century, until an economic diversification began after an oil bust in the 1980's.
Government
Tulsa has a mayor-council form of government. Tulsa is also the county seat for Tulsa County.
Cityscape
The city of Tulsa covers over 181 square miles--an area roughly three times the size of Washington DC. This large city footprint allows Tulsa's communities to take on a personality much their own.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Tulsa is an area of approximately 1.4 squre miles surrounded by an inner-dispersal loop created by Interstate 244, Interstate 444, and Highway 75.[5] A building boom in the early 20th century has made downtown Tulsa one of the largest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the United States.[6] The area serves as Tulsa's financial and business district, and is the topic of a large initiative to draw tourism, which includes plans to capitalize on the area's historic architecture and is responsible for the construction of the 18,000-seat BOK Center, which broke ground in 2005.[7] The area also contains the BOK Tower, the tallest building in any of the five "Frontier States" of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.[8] Downtown also contains much of Tulsa's convention space, such as the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Tulsa Convention Center, and beginning in 2008, the BOK Center. Prominent downtown sub-districts include the Blue Dome District, the Brady Arts district, and the Greenwood Historical District.
South Tulsa is generally considered to be a large area between 61st Street and 121st Street that was developed since the 1970's. The area contains a heavy concentration of new chain retail stores, particularly along the 71st Street cooridor, which also has one of the state's largest shopping malls, Woodland Hills Mall. Mostly suburban in nautre, South Tulsa contains large schools and many parks. South Tulsa is particularly hilly and heavily wooded, and holds many of the city's most expensive and secluded homes. Southern Hills Country Club, Oral Roberts University are located in the area.
East Tulsa is an area comprised mostly of modest residential neighborhoods developed since the 1960's. The area contains a diverse racial makeup, including a large Asian population and a "Little Mexcio" district, in which large numbers of Hispanic immigrants have established a vibrant community centered around the Plaza Santa Cecelia near East 21st Street and Garnett Road. Areas of light industry and manufacture are also found in East Tulsa and the Harvey Young Airport, a public commuter airport, is located on the eastern edge of the area.
West Tulsa is a name reserved for the entire city area west of the Arkansas River, has some of the city's largest parks and wilderness reserves. The area is also a testament to Tulsa's history in the oil industry, and still contains several large oil refineries.
North Tulsa is home to a large percentage of Tulsa's African-American community. The area's Booker T. Washington High School, one of Tulsa’s African-American high schools during the segregation era and now a magnet school, was judged in 2005 to be the 58th best high school in the United States by Newsweek Magazine. Included in the region is the Greenwood Historic District and the adjacent campus of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, the internationally famous Gilcrease Museum, the Tulsa International Airport, the Tulsa Zoo, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, and the nation's third-largest municipal park, Mohawk Park. Many of the city's manufacturing and industrial areas are located in North Tulsa.
Midtown Tulsa is a largely residential district occupying land just south and east of Downtown and Uptown from the east bank of the Arkansas River to approximately Yale Avenue and 51st Street. This area, Tulsa's historical residential core, consists mostly of large upscale homes built in the early 1900s with architecture ranging from art deco to Greek Revival. The area contains the prominent mansions of former oil barons, including the the Philbrook Museum. The University of Tulsa, the upscale shopping districts of Utica Square and Cherry Street are located in Midtown.
Geography
Tulsa, located in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma, lies between the edge of the Great Plains and the foot of the Ozark Mountains in a generally forested region of rolling hills.
The city serves as the gateway to "Green Country," a popular and officially designated name for northeast Oklahoma. The nickname is due to the region's dense green vegetation and relatively high amount of hills and lakes compared to that of Central and Western Oklahoma (which have geography similar to "the Great Plains" region of the U.S.). Northeastern Oklahoma contains more than half of the state's registered state parks and six of Oklahoma's 11 ecosystems, more than a dozen major reservoirs, as well as the state's most diversified agricultural economy and outdoor sports and recreation industry. [9]
The city is split by the prominent Arkansas River. The Arkansas River flows in a wide, sandy-bottomed channel. Its flow in the Tulsa area is controlled by upstream flood-control reservoirs and the width and depth of water in the channel can vary widely throughout the year. Except in the most severe drought (as experienced in 2006) a low-water dam maintains a full channel in the area adjacent to downtown Tulsa.
Tulsa is heavily wooded, with abundant parks and water areas. Several prominent hills with names such as "Shadow Mountain" and "Turkey Mountain" create varied terrain mostly in the southern portion of the city. The central and northern sections are generally flat to gently undulating, although the Osage Hills extension into the northwestern part of the city further varies the landscape.
Tulsa's geographic coordinates are 36°7′53″N 95°56′14″W / 36.13139°N 95.93722°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (36.131294, -95.937332)Template:GR, with an elevation of 213 m (700 ft) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 483.9 km² (186.8 mi²). 473.1 km² (182.6 mi²) of it is land and 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²) of it (2.24%) is water.
Business and Economy
For most of the 20th century, oil refinery and oil corporations dominated Tulsa's economy. Like the rest of Oklahoma, an oil bust in the 1980s severely compromised that economic foundation. Since then, city and county officials have been leading massive undertakings to diversify Tulsa's economy. Today, Tulsa is still an important energy and oil center, but other sectors have driven economic growth in recent years, such as aerospace, finance, technology, telecommunications, high tech, and manufacturing.[10] The Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, the nation's most inland seaport, connect Tulsa with international trade and transportation. The Tulsa International Airport is also home to a large American Airlines maintenance center, and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa contains an extensive industrial park.
In 2001, with a national recession, the city witnessed an economic downturn similar to that of the 1980's. In response, a comprehensive economic and tourism development initiative, Vision 2025, was approved by voters. The initiative promised to recreate recently lost jobs and rapidly increase job development and economic growth. Projects spurred by the initiative promised urban revitalization, infrastructure improvement, tourism development, and further diversification of the economy. The crown jewel of Vision 2025 projects, the BOK Center, is a multi-purpose 18,000-seat arena currently under construction in downtown Tulsa, which was designed to be an architectural icon of the city. Along with other Vision 2025 projects, leaders hope the arena will spur downtown development and tourism. The project has led to a significant economic development and investment surge in the city, and as of 2006, employment levels in the city have surpassed pre-recession heights. [11][12]
In 2006, Forbes magazine rated Tulsa as second in the nation in job income growth, and one of the best cities to do business in the country. [13] Usually among the lowest cities in the nation in terms of cost of doing business, Tulsa has, in recent years, been officially recognized for it. Recently, the Tulsa Metropolitan Area has been rated among the five lowest Metropolitan Areas in the United States for cost of doing business. [14]
Education
There are three school districts in the city of Tulsa with Tulsa Public Schools being the primary district. With over 40,000 students it is the largest school district in Oklahoma. Jenks and Union schools are two other primary districts, each with one upper high school. Union is the second largest high school in the state and Jenks is the third. These two districts cover the southern portion of the city. The Catholic diocese of Tulsa supports a private school system that includes Bishop Kelly High School, and Cascia Hall Preparatory School is another Catholic high school in Tulsa. Most other private schools have religious affiliations with various Jewish and Protestant denominations.
Colleges and Universities
Tulsa has 14 institutions of higher education, including two NCAA Division 1 universities: the University of Tulsa, a private school founded in 1894; and Oral Roberts University, a private school founded by evangelist Oral Roberts in 1963. In addition, Oklahoma State University operates Oklahoma State University - Tulsa in downtown Tulsa, which accommodates upper-level courses. The OSU Center for Health Science and the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine are also located near downtown. The University of Oklahoma has a graduate campus in Tulsa, known as the Schusterman Center, located in the Midtown region of Tulsa. Rogers State University, located in the suburb of Claremore, is the Tulsa area's only public four-year university, although Tulsa Community College and OSU-Tulsa have a partnership allowing students to complete four-year Bachelor's degrees between the two campuses.
The largest community college in Oklahoma, Tulsa Community College, operates four campuses spread across the area as well as a conference center in Midtown. Another secondary school of higher education is theTulsa Technology Center, which operates as an independent school district offering two-year career and technical education programs. It is the largest Technology School system in Oklahoma, with six campuses in Tulsa County.
Near the Tulsa International Airport is the Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology, a college known for its aviation education programs.
Libraries
The Tulsa City-County Library system is the largest in the state of Oklahoma, containing 1.7 million volumes in 25 library facilities (map).
The Tulsa City-County Library is very active in the community, holding events and programs at most library locations, including free computer classes, children's story-times, business and job assistance, and many others. The library system provides access to dozens of online databases for reliable information on a variety of topics. Many of these are accessible from home with a valid library card number. There are many other research tools available, including an award-winning database of frequently-asked questions.
The McFarlin Library at the University of Tulsa is a federal depository library holding over 3 million items. The library was founded in 1930 and is known for its collection of Native American works and the works of Irish author James Joyce.[15]
Culture
Tulsa's history has produced a diverse population of Southern settlers, northern oilmen, western ranchers, and Native American tribes. The city's culture has been shaped correspondingly by this blend of diverse driving forces. Today, Tulsa is host to museums, cultural centers, preforming arts venues, a large array of ethnic festivals, and extensive park systems containing a zoo, wildlife preserves, and outdoor concert venues.
Museums
Tulsa’s culture is apparent in the city’s most prominent art museums, the Philbrook Museum of Art and Gilcrease Museum. The Philbrook is located in the former estate of oil pioneer Waite Phillips. Phillips and his wife, Genevieve, donated the 1927 Italian Renaissance "Villa Philbrook" and its 23 acres of landscaped grounds to the city of Tulsa in 1938. Considered one of the top 50 art museums in the U.S., it is one of only five to offer a combination of historic home, gardens, and art collection. Gilcrease Museum, located in the Osage Hills northwest of downtown Tulsa, houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West. The Museum also offers an unparalleled collection of Native American art and artifacts, as well as historical manuscripts, documents and maps. Themed gardens, focused on various periods of North American history, have been developed on 23 of the museum's 460 acres.
Other important museums include the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, which houses the largest collection of Judaica in the Southwest United States, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, the Tulsa Geosciences Center, and the Greenwood Cultural Center, which preserves the history of The Black Wall Street prior to the Tulsa Race Riot.
Parks
The City of Tulsa manages 140 parks covering roughly 6,000 acres (24 km²). Woodward Park, a popular 45-acre tract, boasts a wide variety of horticultural presentations, including 15,000 azalea plants, rock gardens, an English herb garden, ponds and waterfalls, a Victorian conservatory, and a botanical gardens. Nearby is the Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden, containing 6,000 rose plants of 250 varieties. The city also operates an undeveloped forested region called "Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area" on a high hill along the west bank of the Arkansas River. The area covers a heavily wooded bluff and features rugged hiking and mountain biking trails and scenic vistas overlooking Tulsa. The Tulsa River Parks Authority maintains a linear park along more than 10 miles of the banks of the Arkansas River with over 20 miles of hard-surfaced biking and running trails traverse the park, which also contains a large "festival park" containing an amphitheatre and floating stage used for festivals and concerts.
The city's zoo, the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, was named in 2005 "America's Favorite Zoo" by Microsoft Game Studios in connection with a national promotion of their "Zoo Tycoon 2" computer game. It is located in the northeast part of the city in Mohawk Park, the third largest municipal park in the United States. Additionally, the new Oklahoma Aquarium is the state’s only freestanding aquarium, and contains over 200 exhibits arranged in 9 galleries and a walk-through shark tank. It is located on the west bank of the Arkansas River in the suburb of Jenks, Oklahoma.
Performing arts
Tulsa's performing arts community has had a significant influence in American pop culture history. The Tulsa Sound is a musical style, involving a fusion of Rockabilly, Blues and Rock'n'Roll that influenced many musicians such as Eric Clapton during the 1960s and 70's. Cain's Ballroom, often considered the birthplace of Western Swing because it was the headquarters of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, has played host to a number of famous musicians. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, Tulsa contains several permanent dance, theater, and concert groups, including ballet groups, an orchestra group, a chorus and opera company, and several large theater groups. A group called Theatre Tulsa holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating community theatre company west of the Mississippi River and the first community theatre in America to produce (in 1939) Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Most of these groups base themselves from the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in downtown Tulsa.
“Discoveryland!,” an outdoor amphitheater located 12 miles west of Downtown Tulsa, is the official performance headquarters of the musical "Oklahoma!" and holds performances during the summer months. Another important performing arts venue includes the Brady Theater, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beginning in 2008, the 18,000-seat BOK Center will host large preforming arts events.
Festivals and Events
See also: List of festivals and events in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Various groups, including the City of Tulsa, operate a large number of festivals throughout the year. Most notably, the Tulsa State Fair, operating in late September and early October, attracts over 1 million people during its 10 day run at Expo Square in midtown Tulsa. Also, Tulsa’s Oktoberfest was recently named one of the top 10 Oktoberfests in the world by USA Today, while Bon Appetit magazine calls it one of the top German food festivals in the nation.[16]
Amusement Parks
Tulsa currently has one main amusement park attraction, Big Splash Water Park [3], located at Expo Square in midtown. The water park features several multi-story water-slides and a large wave pool.
Until 2006, Expo Square was home to Bell's Amusement Park, a Coney Island-style amusement park featuring "Zingo," Oklahoma’s largest wooden Roller Coaster. The park also featured an antique ferris wheel until it was severely damaged beyond repair in a storm in the summer of 2006. Due to its location, Bell's rides were incorporated into the midway during the annual Tulsa State Fair. Bell's Amusement Park was closed following the 2006 season after Tulsa County officials declined to renew the park's lease agreement. Most of Bell's equipment had been removed by early 2007 and the owner of Bell's was reported to be discussing relocation of the park with other cities in the Tulsa metropolitan area.
Sports
The "Vision 2025" program, approved by voters in 2003, called for the construction of a major multi-purpose arena. The 18,000-seat BOK Center is intended to be a home for the city's minor league hockey and arena football teams, as well as a venue for major concerts and conventions. Groundbreaking on the structure occurred in 2005 and completion is expected in 2008.
Southern Hills Country Club (SHCC) is one of the top rated golf courses in the nation and one of a very few to host six majors: 3 PGA Championships and 3 U.S. Opens, the most recent in 2001. It will host its 4th PGA Championship and seventh major overall in 2007. SHCC has also hosted five amateur championships. Additionally, Tulsa hosts the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic, a regular LPGA tour stop, at the Cedar Ridge Country Club.
Tulsa has 2 universities that compete in sports at the NCAA Division I level: the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University. The Tulsa area is also home to several high school athletic teams that are frequently ranked among the best nationally.
Along with Oklahoma City and several other U.S. and Canadian sites, Tulsa has been mentioned as a possible home for the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins should the NHL club opt to leave Pittsburgh. [4] Although Tulsa is scheduled to open a new indoor arena in 2008, a major sports franchise is considered a long-shot since the metro area is still under one million people.
Gaming
Tulsa has several Indian gaming venues. As a result of compacts between the State and various Native American tribes, tribal gaming facilities that were previously limited to bingo now offer table card games and slot machines. Cherokee Casino and Resort, Creek Nation Casino, and Osage Million Dollar Elm (two locations), are the largest casinos in the Tulsa Metro area. Horse racing is also a popular gambling draw, both at Fair Meadows race track, and at Will Rogers Downs in nearby Claremore. Fair Meadows also has a large Off-Track betting center.
Healthcare System
Healthcare in Tulsa is primarily serviced by six private hospitals, the Catholic-affiliated St. John and St. Francis systems, the Ardent-affiliated Hillcrest Hospital and OSU Medical Center, Triad's SouthCrest[5] and Cancer Treatment Centers of America Southwestern Medical Center.
Tulsa County operates the Tulsa Health Department.
Climate
Tulsa sits near the heart of Tornado Alley, and has a temperate climate of the continental variety, with a yearly average temperature of 61°F. Due to frequent flooding in past decades, Tulsa now has one of the most extensive flood control systems in the nation. In 2000, FEMA honored Tulsa as leading the nation in flood plain management.[17]
As is typical for the temperate zones, Tulsa's climate varies throughout the seasons and experiences occasional extremes. Summer temperatures of 40 °C (100 °F) or higher are often observed from July to early September. These are usually accompanied by high humidity, caused by warm air from the Gulf of Mexico brought in by southerly winds. Between May and September, Tulsa also experiences an "Ozone Season", caused by a combination of factors including climate and hydrocarbon emissions. During this season, Tulsa frequently issues "Ozone Alerts [6]", encouraging all parties to do their part in complying with the Clean Air Act and E.P.A. standards. Winter temperatures, while generally mild, also occasionally experience extremes below -20 °C (0 °F). The fall season is quite short, consisting of a brief period of pleasant, sunny days and cool nights. Primarily during the spring and early summer months, the Tulsa area is often subjected to severe thunderstorms, some of which contain large hail, damaging winds and, not infrequently, tornadoes. Severe weather is not limited, though, to this season. On December 5 1975, for example, Tulsa experienced a damaging tornado. The spring and early summer thunderstorm pattern also provides the area with a disproportionate share of its annual rainfall, which averages around 100 cm (39 inches).
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2006, there were 387,807 people, 165,743 households, and 99,114 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.9/km² (2,152.0/mi²). There were 179,405 housing units at an average density of 379.2/km² (982.3/mi²). In 2006, the racial makeup of the city was 70.09% Caucasian, 15.47% African American, 4.72% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races, and 4.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race formed at least 7.15% of the population with possibly more unregistered persons living within the city.
There were 165,743 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 33.9% of all households are made up of only one person, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 people and the average family size was 2.98. In the city, the population is spread-out with 24.8% of the population under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,316, and the median income for a family was $44,518. Males had a median income of $32,779 versus $25,587 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,534. About 10.9% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Tulsa Metro Area
The Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of seven counties in northeastern Oklahoma: Tulsa, Rogers, Osage, Wagoner, Okmulgee, Pawnee, and Creek. The 2006 US Census Estimate shows the Tulsa MSA to have 897,752 residents.
The Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area (CSA), is created by adding the Bartlesville, Oklahoma micropolitan area which consists of Washington County in Northeastern Oklahoma.
The 2006 US Census Estimate shows the Tulsa-Bartlesville CMSA to have 946,993 residents. Cities and towns in this area include (in no particular order):
- North: Dewey, Bartlesville, Pawhuska, Barnsdall, Skiatook, Collinsville, Owasso, Nowata
- West: Pawnee, Bristow, Cleveland, Kellyville, Sand Springs, Mannford, Sapulpa
- East: Claremore, Catoosa, Broken Arrow, Wagoner, Coweta, Inola
- South: Jenks, Glenpool, Bixby, Mounds, Beggs, Okmulgee, Henryetta
Green Country
Green Country is a popular term used in different scenarios to describe different aspects of the Greater Tulsa Region, but may also refer specifically to the official Tulsa MSA. Each usage of the term is derived from its official meaning as the tourism designation for all of Northeastern Oklahoma.
While the Tulsa MSA only officially occupies a section of Green Country as it is defined by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the entire region is sometimes referred to as the Greater Tulsa Area. On the same accord, the term "Green Country" can apply to the immediate Tulsa urban area or the city of Tulsa proper, but neither of these are proper or official for the use of the term. (See "Green Country")
Transportation
Served by an extensive bus network, Tulsa also contains two primary airports and a seaport. The Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Richard L. Jones, Jr. Airport (RVS) are its primary airport venues. The Tulsa International Airport is home to eleven commercial airlines, seven cargo carriers, and several charter airlines which serve nearly 3 million travelers annually with almost 80 departures every day. The airport has completed most of its expansion project, and has recently added several restaurants and shops as well as "expanded seating areas, convenient restrooms, and real time flight information." The impact of airport operations on the surrounding community is nearly $3.2 billion annually. [18] RVS, also known as Riverside airport, is located in Tulsa. The airport saw 285,484 takeoffs and landings in 2004, making it the busiest airport in the state of Oklahoma. Much of this traffic is from the six flights schools which operate over 500 aircraft out of the airport (establishing it as one of the busiest flight training facilities in the country). RVS operations generate over $3.2 million annually.[19] East of Tulsa, in Catoosa, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa is the head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), connecting barge traffic from Tulsa to the Mississippi River. This port is the farthest inland port in the United States.
As reported by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 2005, Tulsa's busiest freeway is US 169 with about 106,000 vehicles daily between 51st and 61st Streets. Also, Tulsa's second busiest freeway is Interstate 44 with about 88,000 vehicles between Yale and Sheridan Avenues. Interstate 44 and the Skelly Drive Bypass crosses Tulsa through midtown from east and west, while its sister highways, Interstate 244 and Interstate 444 make up the inner-dispersal loop surrounding downtown and wrap through the northern part of the city, reconnecting to Interstate 44 in the east and southwest parts of the city. U.S. Route 412 leaves the city from its most eastern and western points, but through most of its duration in Tulsa it is primarily designated as Interstate 244. U.S. Route 64 forms the Broken Arrow Expressway to the east, going as far as the Keystone Expressway to the west. U.S. Route 75 traverses West Tulsa through downtown going north and sotuh, while U.S. Route 169, also called the Mingo Valley Expressway or the Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway, generally traverses the city in its eastern areas from north and south. State Highway 11 serves the Tula International Airport, connecting from Interstate 244 and Highway 75. The Creek Turnpike splits away from Highway 169 from the South and Interstate 44 from the East, bypassing most of the city of Tulsa and the suburb of Broken Arrow, eventually reconnecting with Interstate 44 in Catoosa to the east and Jenks to the west. Tulsa also contains through its entire boundaries a drivable stretch of historic Route 66, with motels and restaurants reminiscent of the route's heyday era. Cyrus Avery, known as "The Father of Route 66," resided in Tulsa.
Media and publishing
- Local Newspapers
- Coffee News of Metro Tulsa www.coffeenewstulsa.com is a weekly publication of good news that promotes local businesses.
- Tulsa Beacon www.tulsabeacon.com is a weekly paper aimed towards Christian conservative readers.
- Tulsa Business Journal www.neighbor-newspapers.com
- Tulsa Daily Commerce and Legal News www.neighbor-newspapers.com
- Tulsa Free Press www.gtrnews.com, published on a monthly basis, features community news, classifieds and local information.
- Tulsa Front Page www.tulsafrontpage.com is a recent local paper.
- Tulsa World www.tulsaworld.com is Tulsa's daily newspaper and is the second-most widely circulated newspaper in the state.
- Urban Tulsa www.urbantulsa.com is Tulsa's free alternative newsweekly, featuring such staples as local commentary, feature stories, classifieds, restaurant reviews and entertainment listings.
- Regional Newspapers
- Dallas Morning News www.dallasnews.com
- Oklahoma Indian Times www.okit.com.
- The Oklahoman www.newsok.com, Oklahoma City's daily newspaper, widely circulated in the Tulsa area.
- Pennysaver www.tulsa-pennysaver.com
Broadcast All major U.S. television networks are represented in Tulsa. Cable television service in the area is provided by Cox Communications. As in most major American cities, local radio stations in the Tulsa area are controlled by a small handful of large broadcasting companies.
Tulsa in popular culture
Tulsa has also been featured or mentioned in books, film, songs, and on television.
Books
|
|
Comics
|
- Doc Samson, a supporting character of the Incredible Hulk, was born in Tulsa.
Movies
|
|
Television
|
|
Songs
|
|
Sister Cities
Tulsa has eight sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
See also
External links
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
News from Wikinews
Quotations from Wikiquote
Texts from Wikisource
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Resources from Wikiversity
- Brady Heights Historic District
- Gay Brady Heights
- Official Tulsa Police Website
- Official City Website
- Tulsa Chamber of Commerce
- Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Tulsa City-County Library
- Tulsa blogging group on local issues
- Young Professionals of Tulsa
- Tulsa Arts and Humanities Council
- Living Arts of Tulsa
- Vision 2025
- Tulsa River Parks
- Downtown Tulsa News, Living, and Housing Options
References
- ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/4075000.html Tulsa (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau] [Census Bureau]
- ^ "Metro Area growth nearing 7 digits" (web). Leigh Bell. Tulsa World. 4-5-2007. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-4-13.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Quality of Life - Fun and Play" (web). Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Oklahoma Department of Commerce. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
- ^ "Tulsa, Oklahoma" (web). Most Livable. About Partners. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
- ^ "Tulsa, Oklahoma" (web). Downtown Tulsa Unlimited. Downtown Tulsa Unlimited. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Tulsa, Oklahoma" (web). Downtown Tulsa Unlimited. Downtown Tulsa Unlimited. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ "Walk to tie city's projects together" (web). Land Legacy. Land Legacy. 12-25-2005. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Tallest Buildings by US State" (web). Richie Gill. All About Skyscrapers. 10-06-2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ [1] [Oklahoma Department of Tourism]
- ^ "Business Opportunities" (web). Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce. Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-14-4.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Cap Rates Turning More Investors Onto Tulsa" (web news article). Globeest.com. Globest.com. June 11 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "2006 Oklahoma Economic Outlook/City of Tulsa" (PDF). Oklahoma State University. Center for Applied Economic Research. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-14-4.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Tulsa, OK: Best Places to do Business 2006" (web). Forbes Magazine. Forbes Magazine. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ "Economic Profile and Forecast" (PDF). Tulsa Metro Chamber. Tulsa Metro Chamber. 2004. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-14-4.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ The University of Tulsa McFarlin library website, available at http://www.lib.utulsa.edu/mcfarlin.htm
- ^ name="Best Oktoberfests in America">"Best Oktoberfests in America" (web). Askmen.com. Ask Men.com. 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 2006-07-23.
- ^ FEMA News Release HQ-00-046a, 13-Sep-2000 [2]
- ^ Tulsa International Airport website, available http://www.tulsaairports.com/
- ^ Richard L. Jones, Jr. Airport website, available http://www.tulsaairports.com/rljones/rljones_airport.html